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Looking for a cash-back credit card to add to your arsenal of rewards cards? Cash-back cards play an important role in any rewards strategy by putting money back in your wallet with every purchase. American Express currently offers four variations of cash-back credit cards, each featuring different combinations of welcome offers, earning structures (some with earning caps), annual fees, and perks.
In this post, we will compare the features of each Amex cashback card so you can decide which is best for your wallet.
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Overview of American Express Cashback Credit Cards
Three of the Amex cards we'll review offer increased returns on select bonus categories. The fourth card offers a flat return on all purchases.
Many other Amex cards earn flexible Membership Rewards points or points and miles within a specific loyalty program (often called co-branded cards). In contrast, the cards we're covering earn cash back, effectively providing a cash-equivalent rebate on every dollar you spend.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- No Annual Fee.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 20.24% to 29.24% variable APR.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
- 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
- Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Everyday® Card. Enrollment required.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
- 3% cash back with U.S. online retailers (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
- 1% back on other purchases
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- Welcome offer: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- Earning structure: 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 3% cash back on up to $6,000 of U.S. online retail purchases per year (then 1%), 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 of purchases per year (then 1%), and 1% cash back on other purchases (issued as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout).
- Notable perks: $84 Disney+ Bundle credit (up to $7 back per month) and $180 Home Chef credit (up to $15 back per month). Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
- Annual fee: $0 (Rates & Fees)
Our take: The Blue Cash Everyday is a fantastic no-annual-fee (Rates & Fees) option for earning cash back on common spending categories.
This American Express cash-back card earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S gas stations, and online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per category annually, then 1%). The cap on bonus categories may be limiting for higher spenders but might be high enough for those who aren't.
Additionally, the intro APR of 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (then a variable APR of 20.24% - 29.24%) adds flexibility for financing larger purchases or managing existing credit card debt.
Related: Blue Cash Everyday Review
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments with a fixed fee. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low Intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 20.24% - 29.24%.
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
- 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- Earning structure: 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, plus 6% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 3% at U.S. gas stations, and 3% on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more, and 1% on all other eligible purchases (issued as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout).
- Notable perks: $84 Disney+ Bundle credit (up to $7 back per month). Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
- Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (Rates & Fees)
Our take: If maximizing returns on groceries and streaming services is your goal, the Blue Cash Preferred stands out as one of the best American Express cash-back cards on the market.
This card offers a market-leading 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in annual U.S. supermarket spending and on select U.S. streaming services (then 1%). Moreover, the 3% cash back on transit purchases and at U.S. gas stations adds even more value for those who commute to work or prefer road trips to air travel.
While the $95 annual fee (from the second year on - Rates & Fees) may seem steep, it’s easily offset if your grocery spending eclipses $31 per week. That's an easy target for most people.
That said, international travelers should be aware of the card's foreign transaction fees of 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to U.S. Dollars (Rates & Fees), which makes it a poor option for spending abroad.
Related: Blue Cash Preferred Review
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That's why you've got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- Earning structure: Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- Notable perks: N/A.
- Annual fee: No annual fee (Rates & Fees)
Our take: This small business Amex cashback card offers 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% (issued as a statement credit). Its simple (but rewarding) earning structure makes the Blue Business Cash an ideal option for businesses with a wide range of expenses that don’t fit squarely into specific bonus categories.
Better yet, the Blue Business Cash has no annual fee (Rates & Fees). And for businesses who need the additional flexibility, the card offers an introductory APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening (followed by a variable APR of 17.49% - 27.49%).
Simply put, this card delivers consistent rewards without complexity.
Related: Blue Business Cash Review
The Plum Card® from American Express
- Paying early pays off: earn an unlimited 1.5% Early Pay Discount on eligible charges paid within 10 days of your statement closing date and see the discount applied to your next statement when you pay at the least the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date.
- Take up to 60 days to pay with no interest†, when you pay your minimum due by the Payment Due Date.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.†
- Terms Apply. Learn More.
- Rates & Fees
- Get a 1.5% discount when you pay early, with no cap on what you can earn back.
- Welcome offer: N/A
- Earning structure: 1.5% discount when you pay early, with no cap on what you can earn back.
- Notable perks: Early Pay Discount.
- Annual fee: $250 (Rates & Fees)
Our take: The Amex Plum Card is an under-the-radar choice for businesses that value payment flexibility and can take advantage of its Early Pay Discount.
The main draw to the Amex Plum is the flexibility to pay in full or carry a balance for up to 60 days with no interest (Rates & Fees). Cardholders can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on eligible charges by paying early, within 10 days of their statement closing date.
But it's worth noting that this card imposes a $250 annual fee (Rates & Fees) — the highest of any Amex cash back card in this post. Thus, you'll need to spend quite a bit (and do so early) to recoup the dollars spent to carry the card in the first place. Otherwise, you're better off with another card.
Related: Amex Plum Review
Final Thoughts
Each American Express cash-back card caters to a different type of spender, from the no-annual fee Blue Cash Everyday (Rates & Fees) to the high-earning Blue Cash Preferred. And both the Blue Business Cash and Amex Plum can come in handy for the right kind of business owner.
When choosing the best Amex cashback card for you, be sure to consider your spending habits and compare them against other cash-back cards to maximize the rewards on the purchases you make the most.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card (Rates & Fees), and The Plum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
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